MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos has stopped the planned reshuffle of top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP), noting the plan is subject to confirmation and approval of President Marcos.
Abalos said the planned reassignment of eight PNP officials were just recommendations subject to confirmation by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which he chairs, and approval of the President.
“Let’s be clear that there is a process that should be followed. The list of select officials will be submitted to the Napolcom for confirmation. If confirmed, the list will be forwarded to President Marcos for approval,” Abalos said in a statement in Filipino.
He cited a Napolcom memorandum circular, which provides that the designation of some positions should be submitted to the commission for confirmation prior to submission to the President.
This developed after Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. was reportedly designated as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, who was formerly NCRPO chief, was appointed head of the PNP directorate for police community relations (DPCR).
Other changes in the PNP top positions include Nartatez’s successor as chief of directorate for intelligence, which Maj. Gen. Jon Arnaldo was supposed to assume.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, who was deputy director for intelligence, was designated chief of the directorate for human resource and doctrine development, replacing Arnaldo.
Maj. Gen. Eric Noble, former director of the Philippine National Police Academy, was named chief of the directorate for investigation and detective management.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Mario Reyes, formerly of the DPCR, was transferred to the directorate for logistics.
The Highway Patrol Group also has a new recommended head in the person of Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro.
Abalos cited Napolcom’s authority in confirming the recommended personnel to be designated within the police force.
“Civilian control over the police is a hallowed principle of our fundamental law. Rest assured that the Napolcom would carry out its duty to oversee and enhance the administration of the PNP,” Abalos said.
With the suspension of the reshuffle, the officials remain in their current posts until further notice.
Everything was ready for the joint turnover and assumption of offices ceremony at the PNP’s multipurpose center at Camp Crame at noon yesterday.
The ceremony was supposed to be presided over by PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia.
A police official later announced that the event would be moved to 4 p.m.
Another official told journalists covering Camp Crame that the ceremony was postponed following Abalos’ statement that the planned reshuffle was just a recommendation and subject to confirmation.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said at a news briefing that there was no new schedule yet on the formal assumption of office and turn over of command.
Meanwhile, in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Col. Rainerio de Chavez was replaced as chief of the Batangas police a month after assuming the post.
De Chavez was designated as Batangas police chief in May, replacing Col. Pedro Soliba, who will retire next month.
He was replaced by Col. Samson Belmonte, former chief of the Highway Patrol Group-Calabarzon.
Belmonte assumed the post yesterday following a simple turnover ceremony at Camp Miguel Malvar.
The order to replace De Chavez came from the National Command and signed by Maj. Gen. Robert Rodriguez, chief of the directorate for personnel and records management. — Ed Amoroso